€> <>^^:]. .%. .0^. Vt>Tv^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V /. {/ ?, •% 1.0 I.I 1.25 '- IIIIM IIIIM 12.2 1^ i^ It ieople are few and scattered, but it is believed that, with regular services and the presence of a clergyman, the numbers would soon increase, and many be brought into the Church. The l)eople have already shown their earnest desire to have the Mis- sion re-opened, and they wait in hope for a clergyman to be sent to them. II. ALBERT. By the Bev. Canon Medley This mission having been deserted by the Church of i-ngland almost entirely for more than twenty years, it cannot be expected that its prospects, from a Church point of view, will be very en- couraging. We will, however, put before the Church people of the Diocese the bare facts concerning the Mission of Albert, and let them judge for themselves as to its needs. The population of the County at the time of the last census somewhat exceeded 11,000 (eleven thousand). Out of this num- ber 456 are returned as members of the Church of England. There are three consecrated and one unfinished churches ; three stations where ser\'ices were regularly held during the incum- bency of the last Missionary, and at least six other places which might be opened as stations. There are twenty communicants still left. "We may well rejoice that Albert is no longer a vacant Mission. On Thursday, the 28th of February, 1884, the Rev. A. J. Cress- well, a Deacon who had just come from England, arrived at Albert, and has since been diligently working in the Mission. He WJ^ welpometl heartily by the people, and appears hopeful in hi^ at He arduous work. He found a few willing Workers who had bIiowH their zeal before his arrival by expending about $150 in repairs on the Church at Hopewell Hill, and had also made U}) the assess- ment required by the Board of Home Missions of the D. C. S. towards his stipend. We shall look forward with much interest to his first report, which will come before the General Committee on July 1st. No doubt the great extent of this Mission, over the entire area of which our Church population is scattered, will be a hind- rance to the work ftr several years to come, and will test the zeal and energy of the Missionary sorely, but we are very h' peful con- corning the future for Albert. At Hillsborough, where there is no Church building, the peo- ))lo are very eager for the services of the Church. At Hopewell Cape and Hopewell Hill they have already displayed more enter- prise than their brethren in some of our best worked parishes. At Hai-vey Corner a few faithful souls have pressed tlieir claims for an open Church upon the ^lissionary. At Salmon Kiver tliere i.s an opening for a strong station. At New Ireland, where twenty years ago there was a thriving congi'egation which more than tilled the Church, there are still some few families who only need a little encouragement to make them as steadfast as ever. And then Coverdale and Elgin parishes, although almost beyond the m reach of the present Missionary, who will live probably either at Hillsborough or in the village of Albert, there is ample scope for good, honest Church work. The County of Albert is, by road, about 65 miles from its northeast to its southwest boundary, and about 35 miles from its noithwest to its southeast boundtay. In its missionary character it is very similar to the County of Ecstigouclie, which, we well remember, was once considered almost a hopeless Held for Church operations. In answer to Ihe efforts of the past fifteen yeai-s, the !^Iission of IJestigouche is now crying out for a second Missionary, ami we believe that in less time than that, if the D. C. S. can only strengthen the hands of the Missionary in Albert, who is evident- ly much in earnest, and desirous of doing all he can, a second jilissionary will be asked for that Mission. The interest, the lively interest, of every true-hearted Churchman, no less tljan his willing offerings, is needed, anvl this long-neglected work will be done. e 111. CANTERBUl^Y. By the Rev. Canon Neales. The Parish of Canterbury has been set apart as a separate Mission of the Church for at least twenty-five years. It was at first, and for about twenty years, in charge of the Rev. Thomas Hartin, and upon his resignation it was served for two years up to July 1st, 1881, by the Rev. Frederick Towers. Since that date the Mission has been vacant. It has an area of about 400 square miles and a population of 2,600. There are two consecrated ChurcheM, and when there was a Missionary there, services w^ere also held at three Mission stations. No Sunday schools have been kept up during the vacancy. There is neither parsonage nor endowment. An eftbrt has been made of late by the Church Wardens, by canvassing the whole Mission, to find how much money can be raised towards the sup- I)ort of a Missionary, and it is found that at present a sum of $260 per annum is the most that can be hoped for. Although there is, as might be expected, no little to discourage, yet it is a matter of deep regret that the few who earnestly desire it should not receive the regular ministrations of the Church, and that the majority of the young are being lose to the Church alto- gether. Yet, earnest, patient labor, with judicious teaching in the distinct principles of the Church, would soon be found to give much cause for encouragement in this now neglected part of the Lord's field. IV. JOHNSTON. By the Rev. J. R. deW. Cowie. Where is the Parish of Johnston, and where, in it, are the Church stations'? These are questions often asked. Will the reader come with us on an imaginary trip to Johnston ? There are two ways to get there from St. John. If you wish to go with the Missionary, who at present lives at Sussex Vale, he will drive you across the Parish of Studholm, about seventeen miles in a r horthwedtci'ly direction, over veiy hilly roadd, to Knglish Settle- ment, Avhere the Parish Church of Jolinston is. This gives the reader the i)08itiou of this parish in relation to Sussex and Stud- holm. But in the summer season there is a much easier way to get to Johnstou, whicli will show its position very clearly. Let the reader suppose himself to take the steamer from Indiantown for the Washademoak Lake (or properly River). A sail of about 30 miles will bring him to the mouth of this Lake, and a farther sail of 15 miles up the I^ke, having the Parish of "NVickham on the right hand and the Paiish of Cambridge on the left, will bring him to the southwesterly li?nit of the Parish of Johnston. This parish lies on both sides of the Dike, and stretches back upon our right hand, as we sail up the Lake, to the Parishes of Springfield and Studholm, a distance of about 8 miles, and on our left luund it stretches back to the Parishes of Waterborough and Chif/man, a distance of four miles. Thus the reader will obsei-ve that Johnston is 12 miles wide. Its length uj) the Lake is 20 mUes, where it borders on the Parish of Brunswick. Consequently the area is 240 square miles, and it is surrounded by the Parishes of Cam- bridge, Waterborough, Chipman, Brunswick, Studholm, Springtieid and Wickham. The position of English Settlement, the centre of Cbuich work in this parish, has been shown in its relation to Sussex Vale. Let us look at its position from the Lake up which we are sailing. We have already sailed up the Lake 15 miles, and have just entered the parish. Ten miles further brings us to Cody's, a set- tlement on our right hand, where there is a landing called Arm- strong's Landing. This is one of the stations, and service is held here on the Sunday evening of the monthly visit of the Missionary. Now English Settlement is six miles straight bock from this point, on the right hand bank as we sail up the Lake ; and this will help the reader to define its position. Next in importance to English Settlement is Goshen, and its position may be realized by drawing a straight line three miles long from English settlement in a northeasteily dir^tion or up the I^ake and parallel to it. There is one more station in this parish, and its position may be shown by again taking the steamer from Cody's and sailing u]> the Lake five miles to Cole's Island, the head of navigation, and walking from there three miles further, in the same direction, to the Lower Canaan Rapids, on the Canaan River, which empties into the Washademoak Lake. The reader must now have some idea of the whereabouts of Johnston, and the position of the Fkiisk 8 ('hutch ahil the three stations, OosheDi Cody's, and Lowol^ Canaan Kapids. There are 1,735 souls in this parish, and the present Missionary has in the last year found out 206 persons, or 47 families, who adhere to the Church. 3ad it is to have to say, however, that only 12 of these have ever partaken of the Blessed Sacrament. Of these 47 families, 18 live in or near English Settlement; 18 in Groshen and adjoining settlements ; Ave at Cody's, and six at the Ka- pids. There is only a monthly service at each of these stations at present. On Friday evenings the Missionary visits the Rapids, and has service in tlie School House, where the attendance is sometimes up to 50. On the following day he visits the sick, and in the evening holds a Guild meeting at English Settlement. On Sunday morning he catechises the children, and has service in the Parish Church, where the attendance has averaged 80 during the past year. After dinner he drives four miles to Goshen, and has ser- vice in the Orangemen's Hall, where from 80 to 100 people gather in all kinds of weather. After this service he drives six miles to Cody's, where once only the attendance was as low as 35, and it is nearly always over 80. On Monday or Tuesday the Missionary re- turns to Su8sex,and for a whole month the Church doors in Johnston are closed. There is at present no preac-.cr of any of the denomina- tions living in the parish, and when there was a Baptist preacher many of the people came to Church instead of the meeting. Thus the Church, if she puts forth her strength at once, has every op- portunity of growing, and of winning back many whose fore- fathers belonged to the Fold, but who themselves have strayed away because they were not cared for. The Parish Church has been thoroughly repaired, and is in a good condition, although it is far from being church-like in its style of architecture. The new church at Goshen is progressing rapidly, and, if a little help is given to the earnest souls there, the Church will be ready for consecration about the 1st of August. Offerings of money, paint, nails, and especially furniture and hangings for the chancel, will be thankfully received by the 3Iissionary. But there is one thing above everything c '* which causes the hearts of the Johnston people to be glad, and this is the prospect of having a resident clerr„'yman among them very soon. The Board lias promised $600 a year, and the people have already sub- scribed the amount of the asseasment, viz., $200. To show that they are in earnest, thirteen men, all heads of families, have signed an agreement making themselves responsible for the amount of assessment, so long as the Board continues th6 grant. This agree- pient is npw in the Missionary's keening. 9 ses the ospect The V sub- that signed unt of agree- In order that the resident clergyman might have a parsonage, a ])ortion of the money realized from the sale of the Glebe lands has lately been invested in a small property., consisting of eight acres of land, a house, and a good barn, situated in the very centre of the parish and only about a mile from the Parish Church. It is the writer's oi)inion that Johnaton promises to be a flour- ishing parish, and one which in time will repay the D. C. S. manifold. Through the hearty co-operation of the ^lissionary and his people, Johnston bids fair to become one of the Church's strongholds. It is an impossibility to work two parishes like Waterford and Johnston together, as has been attempted during the past year, for their nearest points are fully 20 miles apart and their extremes are 40 miles apart, and the result of it in that neither pai'ish has been properly worked. The question for you, reader, is this, will you contribute liberally to the D. C. S. this coming year, so as to enable that Society to carry out its wishes in regard to Johnston, and many another parish similarly situated, or will you withhold your offering while many of your brother (Jhurchmen, through no fault of their own, are left without the Church's ministrations ? "Whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ? V. MADAWASKA. By the Rev. L. A. Hoyt. The Mission of Madawaaka, originally settled by French Aca- dians, received its first accession of JCnglish settlers about A. D. 1816. Immediately after the induction of the Rev. S. D. Lee Street as Rector of Woodstock, this clergyman visited the Mission officially once a year, going as far as Baker Brook, a distance of 124 miles. To realize this, you will have to suppose the Rector of St. John, in addition to duty, say at St. George, doing all the Church work as far as Woodstock. In A. D. 1845, or thereabouts, a district of one hundred and ten miles long, lying north of AVakefield, was cut off f^-om the Woodstock Mission and placed ii^ 10 IM chargo of one of the two travollinj:^ Missionaries of the Diocese — the Rev. J. S. Thompson. The headquarters of this district were at Andover. As the country around this centre became settled, and required increasing attention from the Missionary, the ser- vices at Madawaska were necessarily, to some extent, withdrawn ; and for many years this Mission was obliged to be contented with week-day services — quarterly — and with the ministrations of a clergyman resident sixty miles distant. This is as though the l)eople of St. John were dependent for all spiritual ministrations on the services of a clergyman residing at Fredericton. In 1870, when the Missions of the Diocese were being arranged fot sche- dule purposes, the Parish of Madawaska, together with the fifteen other parishes of this travelling Missionary's district, Avas included in the Mission of Andover. The system then adopted required that ore attention should be paid at some point where the guar- antee might be, at least, attempted ; and this rendered anything like the former attention to distant posts an impossibility. Hence the spiritual famine became still more intense. Through all their difficulties, the Church people of this jMission, though surrounded by a hostile religious body, remained lof/cd to thr. Churchy prompt- ly sending for their clergyman in case of need, and according him a warm welcome whenever he made them a visit. 80 desirous are they for a clergyman in their midst, that the few and feeble folk who after so many years of destitution are left, now offer a sum towards his support which averages $25 a year from every con- tributor. The future i)rospects of this Mission are unusually en- couraging. It is on the CJreat Road to Quebec. It is also at the point where the railroad, when completed, will leave the St. John River, consequently it will be the distributing centre for the great lumber country of the Upper St. John. It is situated at a dis- tance from any considerable town ; hence it must be the entrepot for the large farming country by which it is surrounded. The Protestants of the Parish of Madawaska are, almost to a man, Church people. We are under grave responsibility to maintain the Church in this Mission. 11 VI. WELDFORD. 1>Y THE Key. D. Forsyth. The Mission of Weldl'orcl has an area of about 232 square miles, and a population of about 3,000. It contains some very excellent farming lands, atibrds extensive facilities for lumbering operations, and there has recently been started, at the thriving village of Mortimore on the I. C. II., near Weldford Station, a manufactory for the production of a valuable extract of hemlock bark. The religion of the population is largely Presbyterian, although probably about 600 i)ersous have been baptized into the Church of England. There are about twenty-five families who may be regarded as reliable and zealous supporters of the Church, and no doubt there would soon be more if the Mission were provided with a faithful, jn-udent and zealous clergyman, whose settled abode would be among the people committed to his charge. The Varish Church, which has just been completed, is free of debt. The sum of $400 is now in the Savings Bank, to be de- voted to the erection of a parsonage as soon as the people have raised a like sum for that pur})ose. The number of communicants in the Mission is twentv-one, but no doubt a larger number could be soon reported if a resident clergyman were at work among the people. There is one Sunday School, at which there has been an aver- age attendance of about fifteen scholars in summer. This school, no doubt, would become more efficient under constant pastoral supervision. There are four Mission Stjitions in the Parish, of which Weld- ford Station, including the village of Mortimore on the I. C. R., is an important one. There is no doubt that a good work for the Church can be done if services are regularly established in the latter village. There are about 332 acres of Church land in the Mission, besides the Church reserve, on which the new Church is built. The in- come from these lands, however, is small. For the present the maintenance of the Missionary will probably depend for the most part on the contributions of about twenty-tive families. JHo doubt ^ 12 this number •would, in a short time, be largely increased if the ser- vices of the Church were regularly provided for the Parish. From the foregoing it will appear what an important fidd the Mission of Weldford presents, and it is to be hoped that the ways and means may be provided without delay by which some faitliful and zealous clergyman may "go forth to his work and to his labour " among the people of this 'Parish. They will hail his advent with a kind and hospitable welcome. ^•^ r' •i: .?•* V; fV,V' *'*«i' •'i** ;:/i '^r'v"-' aSO. W. DAT, PKINTBB. \